What must I know to endure my trials?
Yesterday
We finished looking at ‘trials test our faith’.
Today
We will focus on what we need to ‘know’ to endure trials.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It >
Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Let’s Begin Today With Prayer
Make us know Your ways, O LORD; Teach us Your paths. Lead us in Your truth and teach us, For You are the God of our salvation; For You we wait all the day, (Psa 25:4-5). Thank you!
LOOK at What God SAYS
LOOKING is Where We Spend Our Time!
Let GODcha lead the way.
Where will you begin?
Do you know why I keep asking you this?
Because our tendency is to run to man, reading and/or listening to man, rather than to God!
I used to be so guilty of this. It seemed to be quicker and easier.
Yet, I was feeding on someone else’s regurgitated discovery, that sounded good.
Which might have been right, but unbeknownst to me, could be very wrong!
Words that did not have the power to change my life!
I was missing out on seeing my Lord and sitting in His presence, receiving HIS words of life for me!
I desperately want to help you see how you can discover truth for yourself and have your own personal encounter with your Creator!
And it begins and ends with reading and being in God’s Word, hearing and listening to Him speak to you personally!
So….yes….read!
READ God’s Word
Read James 1:2-4.
Ask the 5W’s and H Questions.
Remember you are burying Truth down deep within.
According to v3
What should we know?
What is being produced through our testings?
Know: the testing produces endurance.
We see: there is a purpose — there is a product.
Unlock the Meaning of the Text
Let’s unfold knowing, and then endurance that are both Key.
Understand God’s Words
Check Out the Meaning
What does ‘knowing’ mean?
Knowing, ginoâskō; in the sense of to understand or comprehend in our minds; in a completed sense.
TIP: Remember to take what you have learned back to the text, to see what it means in its context.
“knowing [to understand/comprehend] that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
Truth Explains Truth About
Knowing
Cross References/Word Search Tutorial >
1st, Try this on your own.
Remember, you are spending time with the Lord.
And when you do the digging, you will remember what God shows you.
Let’s See How You Did!
What do you and I need to know?
We need to know who brings the trials, the testings?
1. We LOOKED at this, but what do you learn from (2Co 12:7-10)?
Know: God brought the trial to Paul, using Satan as His instrument.
Understand: Satan is under God’s control. Jesus tells us Satan must get permission. (Luk 22:31-32)
Understand: It is NOT Satan who puts us through a trial.
Understand: God ALLOWS Satan to bring a trial against us for His purposes.
LISTEN…
What might the Spirit be asking?
Do I know, really understand, it is God who brings my trials?
Have I been guilty of blaming others, and/or Satan for my trials?
How does knowing God brings my trials change my attitude about trials?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Let’s Stop Here For Just a Second!
The LOOK Section encourages us to
Zoom in on God
Because He is always, always Key
As we go through these Truths, and you begin to get to know God and His ways, I want to encourage you to:
Note all you are learning about God.
Begin to make a List.
Journal in your notes and hardbound Bible if possible.
Reflect on The List
It can be used:
- To look often, to help us bury these Truths down deep in our hearts.
- At difficult times – to strengthen and encourage us at difficult times.
- To aid us in praising God, and praying according to Truth.
Let’s Focus On God
What should we know about God who brings the trials?
a. Know:
The LORD is great,
- Above all gods,
- Whatever He pleases, he does. (Psalm 135:5-6)
b. Know:
The LORD exercises:
- lovingkindness,
- justice,
- righteousness on the earth. (Jer 9:23-24)
c. Know:
God is the LORD,
- There is no other,
- Forms light,
- Creates darkness,
- Causes well-being,
- Creates calamity. (Isa 45:6-7)
d. Know:
God rules over all (that means our trials)
- He does according to His will,
- No one can thwart His plan. (Dan 4:34-35)
LISTEN…
What do I know and believe about God?
As I go through this list about God. . .
Do I believe and know ALL of these Truths about God who is LORD?
How does knowing God give me security and peace of mind in my trials?
What am I doing to grow and know God more intimately?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Now THINK:
How can you and I trust God if we don’t know Him?
How does knowing who God is and what He does – help us get through our trials?
Do you see the difference it can make in your life to truly know God?
What Did We LEARN?
Lets Sum It Up!
We LEARNED
We must know, have an understanding mind:
About God and what God is doing – He is at work!
God is LORD; great; and above all gods.
God does what He pleases.
God exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness.
God is the LORD who is to be known and boasted in.
God is the LORD, there is no other.
God forms light and creates darkness.
God brings well-being, but also calamity.
God rules over all and brings the trials.
We LEARNED
We must know, have an understanding mind:
That our faith is being tested!
The testing produces endurance.
HINT: Copy and paste this List about God into your Notes.
Let’s Bring Today to a Close
Reflect and Meditate on all you are learning.
God is revealing Himself to us.
He is giving us Truth about Himself, so you and I will know Him and His ways.
Tell Him you want to know Him,
NOT just ‘know about‘ Him.
Soak it all in and don’t miss what He is saying!
Record Your Discovery in Your Notes
I want to encourage you to put the Definitions and Cross References NOT only in your Notes, but also in your hardbound Bibles next to Jam 1:2-4.
Don’t forget to begin that List on God.
Yes, do it now, or you won’t.
Video Tutorial > Notes Tutorial>
Turn What We Have LEARNED Into Prayer
Perhaps…
OH MOST HIGH GOD, we bow before You who rule and reign over the host of heaven and the inhabitants of this earth; and no one can thwart Your hand, (Dan 4:34-35). Oh Father, we want to be a people who know You, not just know about You. We want to know You, really and truly know You and Your ways! Oh Father, help us to see the bigger picture, the bigger scope of it all, that goes beyond our simple lives! Help us to be able to live far beyond our comfort zone! Oh, may we grasp hold of the Truth that You are the One who brings well-being, but also calamity. Please forgive us for the many times we have blamed others, and/or Satan for our trials. May we know that we know, and understand that You bring the trials. You bring them to purify us and bring about endurance. May knowing this make a huge impact on how we move forward and respond to our struggles. May we consider it all joy, trusting You, and resting in You in the midst of it all. We ask this in Jesus name! Amen!
Next: We will LOOK @ Trials produce endurance.
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